THIRSK hosts a busy seven-race programme tomorrow with racing set to start at 2pm.

The meeting is part of the 2008 ‘Go Racing in Yorkshire’ Summer Festival.

There’s a special racecard competition each day of the Festival up to and including the final day at Pontefract on Sunday, with the overall winner receiving an expenses-paid trip for two to Fairyhouse racecourse and accommodation in a top class Dublin hotel, courtesy of Ripon Travel and Mercedes-Benz.

The opening race is the Sky Bet Supporting the Yorkshire Racing Festival Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs and the trophy will be presented by Yorkshire icon, former trainer Jack Berry MBE.

The feature race of the afternoon is the Stanland Laundry Handicap Stakes, a contest for three-year-olds over a mile and a half.

Deepdale Solutions Ltd of Hartlepool return to sponsor the Deepdale Solutions NSPCC Fillies Handicap Stakes, a sprint race over six furlongs for fillies and mares, as part of the company’s ongoing support of the NSPCC.

Solberge Hall Hotel at nearby Newby Wiske return to Thirsk to support a couple of races, including a contest for maiden two-year-old fillies.

The Silks Brasserie Selling Handicap Stakes draws attention to the Silks Brasserie at the hotel, which has a racing theme.

Friday’s card also includes the Pertemps People Development ‘Hands and Heels’ Apprentice Series Handicap over five furlongs. This is the sixth of 12 races in this series for apprentice riders who are allowed to carry whips but not authorized to use them.

These races are based on a points system designed to reward skill, style and performance in each race, as well as places obtained.

At the end of the Series – the final is held at Doncaster Racecourse in October – the leading apprentice jockey will receive a prize from the sponsors, Pertemps People Development Group.

A giant screen will be in operation during the afternoon, while there’s musical entertainment by Ken Stamp and his Fanfare Band on the Paddock Lawn. Flo the Clown and a roundabout will keep children amused in the Family Ring.

REDCAR’S season on the Flat continues with a seven-race programme on Wednesday when racing is scheduled to start at 2.05pm with a contest for maiden two-year-olds supported by the European Breeders’ Fund.

The highlight is a qualifying race in this season’s Boddington’s Redcar Straight-Mile Championship, a popular handicap series supported by brewers InBev of Castle Eden, which culminates in a £30,000 final on Saturday, October 4 – a day which also features the totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy, one of the richest races in Europe for juveniles.

The final race on Wednesday is The Commitments Are Here On 23rd August Handicap Stakes, a contest for sprinters over six furlongs.

The giant screen will enable racegoers to see even more action on the track.